Horror at loss of Horsell Public Space

Residents of Horsell who have walked past Queen Elizabeth Gardens on the High Street in the last week or so can't have failed to notice major changes to the landscape.  Land to the side of the Bowls Club has been dug up and earth has been piled up towards the edge of the bowling green.

Dramatic landscape changes

I was first alerted to what was going on by residents and went along to see for myself last week.  My immediate reaction was to assume the land, which provided a flat, but sloping surface was being flattened in preparation for a diversion of the footpath which runs between the Bowls Club and the Village Hall.  A footpath diversion is required to allow for a small extension to the Village Hall and the new Scout Hut which is being built behind the Village Hall. 

Further investigation revealed that the plan is to create a steep ridge, running up to the Bowls Club with the diverted footpath running along the edge of the area.  

This is how the area looks now.  It will be grassed again, but a public amenity space where residents walked dogs, children ran around and played ball games and the location for children's sports events at last year's Jubilee celebrations has been removed and will not return.

 

How Did It Happen?

It took me some effort to track down how this had happened.  After searching I found the planning application PLAN/2012/0915.  The application is described as 

"Amendment to planning permission reference PLAN/2012/0225 for a minor amendment to landscaping details that retain spoil on site and re-profile proposed soft landscape areas". 

This is far from a minor amendment.  Apart from showing the proposal to divert the footpath the original planning application for the new Scout Hut and Village Hall extension makes no mention of any work on the land on the west side of the bowling green.  How can wholesale destruction of a public amenity area be described as minor?

Informing Councillors and Residents
Having tracked down the planning application I was very puzzled because it did not look at all familiar to me.  Councillors receive a weekly list of the latest planning applications and I always take a least a glance at all of the Horsell applications.  I had not seen this one.  Investigation revealed that this application had somehow not made it on the weekly list when it was submitted in October.  It did make it on the other list that councillors receive on the outcomes of applications (in January) but as it referred  to a "minor amendment" and I assumed it referred to land around the new Scout Hut I looked no further.

Neighbouring residents were consulted through the usual planning process.  One resident raised concerns.  I imagine others merely read the words "minor amendment" and looked no further.


Next Steps
I am very unhappy and concerned about this horrific loss of public space and  have written to council officers asking:

- How could this be major change to our local landscape be described as a minor amendment when it dramatically alters and renders virtually useless a public amenity area

- Who took the decision to make this minor amendment and who (other than residents through the planning process) was consulted on the decision

- Are any policies breached by the loss of public amenity space

- Has a safety assessment taken place


UPDATE 22 JULY 2013

Finally have answers to the questions above.  Click here for part 2 of this saga.